Wheaton logo 2020 color version also for mobile

Past Lectures and Literary Events

Each year the English Department sponsors other literary events such as lectures, fiction readings, and poetry readings by noted authors and poets. 

Past guests have included:

  • Susanna Childress
  • Joanne Diaz
  • Tom Mongomery Fate
  • Elizabeth Gentry
  • Brett Lott
  • Jamaal May
  • Christian Wiman 
  • Adam Zagajewski

Click on the links below to read about our past guests:

Information on each event will be posted on the Wheaton College main event pages as soon as details are available. Please contact the English Academic Coordinator at 630.752.5051 or email English@wheaton.edu for additional information or if you have questions.

"Listening to Silence" Conference and Exhibit

Read about the “Listening to Silence” conference, a series of lectures along with an art exhibit interacting with Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence, an event co-sponsored by the English Department and Core Studies program last September 2015.

Bruce Guernsey Presents Lowell-Grabill Awards to Outstanding Student Writers

The English Department recognized the work of its many student writers through the presentation of the Lowell-Grabill Creative Writing Contest Awards. For the Spring 2016 contest, Bruce Guernsey, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Eastern Illinois University, read student submissions in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and honored the winners in an awards ceremony. Read more...

Kwame Dawes Gives Lecture and Poetry Reading

In spring 2015,the English Department hosted a lecture and poetry reading by prolific Jamaican poet and writer Kwame Dawes. Read more about the event here.

Rebecca Sandberg's English Department Chapel Address

In Fall 2015, Rebecca Sandberg spoke at the English Department Chapel and shared how she founded the Re:new Project, a place where refugees can learn to sew, sell their wares, and find community. Read more about her story here.

Tom Gardner's Poetry Reading and Lecture

In September 2015, writer and professor Tom Gardner visited the English Department as a Writer in Residence. During his stay at Wheaton, Gardner visited with students in their classes, gave a poetry reading, and delivered a lecture. Read more about his stay at Wheaton here.

N. Katherine Hayles Lecture

In Spring 2015, the Wheaton College English Department hosted Dr. N. Katherine Hayles of Duke University, a leading scholar in the areas of science and literature, who lead a seminar discussion of electronic literature and a lecture on the digital humanities. Read more about her time at Wheaton here.

Randy Boyagoda Reading

In spring 2015, the English Department hosted author Randy Boyagoda who gave a reading of his latest work. Read more about his work here.

Writing for Social Change Event

On February 5, 2015, the Wheaton College English Department sponsored a presentation by Dr. Paul Feigenbaum and Dr. Paula Mathieu on the topic of “Writing for Social Change.” Read a summary of the presentation here.

English Majors Internship Workshop

On March 3, the English department and Wheaton College's Center for Vocation and Career will hold an internship workshop. Read here for event details.